Button-stapling machine



J..s. H NCH. BUTTON STAPLING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DECJS, |917 1,364,264. Patented Jan. 4, 1921,

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m. msg/g- 1. s. vHmm. BUTTON STAPUNG MACHINE.

fiRPLicAmu msn Dsc. sa. 191.1.- 1,364,264. l Patented Jan. 4,1921.

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J. S. FINCH.

BUTTON STAPLING MACHINE. APPLICATION -m50 nrc. 18, 1917.

Patonte Jan. 4, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

J. S. FINCH.

BUTTON STAPLING MACHINE.

APPLlcAloN FILED DEC. la. 1917.

1,364,264. Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

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lll .'BII4 UNITED stares FATENT (.)FFICL roHN s. riNCnyor nninenronr, CONNECTICUT, AssrGNon To THE SINGER MANU- FACTURING ConrnNr, A CORPORATION or New JERSEY.

BUrroN-srn1=LiNG MACHINE.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

AppIeaton lecl December 18, 1917. Serial No. 207,675.

To @l/whom may concern.'

Be it known thatl, JOHN S. FINCH, a citizen of the TJnited States,l residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Button- Stapling Machines, of which the following` is a specificatioi'i, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

lThis invention relates to button attaching machines and has to do more particularly with the securing of buttons by improved means in a manner common to the earlier art. rl`he advantages arising from the present construction comprise convenient means for disconnecting the button-feed from the staple-forming and setting mechanism when it is desired to interrupt the securing of a given variety of buttons for the purpose of substituting a single or small number of a different variety; improved means for suspending the feed-action of the sta-pling wire when, from any cause, a button is not in position to receive the wire through its shank; effecting a rotary step-by-step movement of the button-carrier or wheel at both the effective and return movements of the means for positioning and securing the button; for controlling the gravity feed of the button when entering the button-chute; for actuating and controlling the wire feeding mechanism and for dislodging the buttons from the button-chute when, for any purpose, it

` is desired to substitute a different variety,

together with strengthened and simplified means to better meet the requirements incident to machines of like build and comparatively rapid action.

lt is to be understood that while the present construction `is herein shown and described as manually operated, as employed in shoe repair shops and by retail dealers generally, it is of simple mechanics to con- .ect the operating rod with power driven rotary or oscillating crank member.

Referring to the iigures which form a part of the specification, Figure `1 is a plan view of the present construction with the button receptacle cover turned back and with the bracket-leaf carrying the stapling wire omitted. Fig.` 2 is a view in front end elevation of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view in rear end elevation of F ig. 2. Figzd is a view in side elevation of Fig. 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrow t. Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation opposite to that shown in Fig. 4t. Figs. 6 and 7 are detailed views of the means employed for actuating the button-carrier or feedswheel. Fig. 8 is a view in side elevation of the machine frame, together with certain elements employed in forming and setting the button staples, .said frame and elements being shown partly in section for a better understanding of the operative relationship of the means above referred to. F ig. 9 is a, view of the front end portion of the machine illustrating elements underlying certain element-,s illustrated in Fig. 11. Fig. 10 is a view in perspective of the staple setting slide plate and the parts carried by the latter. Fig. 11 is a top view of certain parts overlying those illustrated in Fig. 9, later to be referred to. Fig. 12 is a view 1n perspective of a portion of the diebracket, together with the die. Fig. 13 `is a View in elevation of the machine standard. Fig. 111 is a plan view of the latter figure. F ig. 15 is a view in perspective of the button receiving cup as when dislodging the buttons from the button-chute for the purpose of substituting a diiierent variety. Fig. 16 is a view in perspective of the staple f setting plate, and Fig. 17 is a view of a shoe-button with the staple inserted in the button-shank and showing in dotted lines the staple secured to the material.

Referring to the iigures, 1 represents the machine standard base in which is suitably secured the lower end of the hollow standard 2 having suitably secured to its opposite end the" table 3 and in said. standardis mounted to move vertically an operating rod 4 pivotally connected at its lower end to an operating treadle 5 pivoted at 6 to a lug 7 forming a part of said base, and upon said standard is adjustably secured a lug 8 be tween which and said treadle is positioned a spring 9 acting to normally hold the treadle in rits elevated position, as shown in Fig. 13, said treadle being limited in its oppositely directed movements by the screws 10 and 11 threaded into suitable lugs carried by said base.

12 represents the machine frame provided with the standards, as 18, 13, seated and secured upon the raised portion 14 of the table 3 by screws, as 15, 15, passing through openings, aslt, 16, formed in said raised portion and threaded into the respective standards. 17 denotes a triangularly shaped rock-lever housed in the machine `frame and at one corner suitably secured on the mainA rock-` it the sta )le settino` pronos as 25 which l '11 A L? 7 3 7 5 through the manual manipulation of the treadle 5 andfconnections pointed out, eo-

operate with the die 26, having the concaved surfaces, as 26', 26', to clench the button securing staple, in a manner later to be described'. Y

27`represents a wire cutting and bending bar held in sliding relationship with the slide-plate 22 by the guide-ribs, as 26, 28 formed on the staple setting plate 24, tracking the grooves as 29, 29, formed in the inner wallsof the wire cutting and bending elements 30, 30ofsaid bar 27, the latter being provided with suitably secured plates, as 30', 30', which, when moved downward, form an extension to the'stationary chute, later to be referred to, and serves as a guide to deliver the buttons from said stationary chute to the button registering head 39, the bar 27 being provided with wire receiving grooves, as 27', 27 a notch 31 and extension 32, the latterl extending through a suitable opening` 33 formed in a guide-plate 34 suit ably secured to the slide-plate 22, a spring 35 carried by said extension acting to revsiliently hold the bar 27 in its advanced position with respect to the slideplate 22 eX- cept when the release pawl-36, carried by the latter, is automatically released from the notch 31, for a purpose later to be eX- plained. v I

i 37 represents the button-registering lever fulcrumed to oscillate upon a shaft 38, journaled in suitable bearings provided in the frame 12. At its forward end the lever 37 is provided with a staple-forming and button-registering head 39,'formed with a slot 40 having an end wall 41 for registering the shank of the button in position to receive the button-securing wire as it is passed from the supply 42. The slot 40 is formed with an opening 43 acting as an outlet for any foreign substance which might interfere with the positioning of the buttons. In its passage from the supply 42, the wire passes through a bushing 43, thence through the shank of the button andabuts with its free end against a stop 44, said stop 44 and bushing 43 being secured in the forward ends of guide-plates 45 and 46. rlhe guide-plates 45 and 46 are secured by screws, as 47, to the frame 12. The head 39 is provided with a slot 48 arranged transversely of the slot 40 to permit of a downward movement of said head, for a purpose hereinafter referred to.

To permit of the downward and effect an upward movement of the head 39, the lever 37 is provided with an elbow extension 49 the free end 50 of which bears against the under side of the slide-plate 22. The slide plate 22 is provided with an opening 51 into which said free end 5() projects through the action of the incline 51 of the slide-plate 22 on the incline 51 of the lever 37 when the slide-plate is moved forward in the operation of the machine, the reverse movement .of said slide causing the inclined wall 52 of said opening to return said head to its effective or raised position. 53 denotes the diebracket suitably secured to the front standard 13 of the frame 12, a cam-roller 54 carried by the release pawl 36 tracking the cam slot 55 in the button feeding frame 56 suitably secured on the frame 12.

57 represents the button-carrier or feedwheel suitably secured on the feed-shaft 58 journaled in suitable bearings formed in the button-receptacle 59, said carrier being pro vided with button-carrying arms or ribs, as 60, between which the buttons lodge and are carried to the vupper periphery of said carrier when owing to the inclines, as 61, they are caused to fall into the button feeding chute 62 by which, through gravity action, they are directed into the button-chute 63 and along the edge of the .inclined buttcnchute side guide-bar 65 to the action of the spring depressed button-feed linger 66, said side guide-bar being removably secured to the frame 56 by a thumb-screw 67 and suit-` able dowel-pins, not shown. 66 denotes au oppositely arranged button-chute side guidebar suitably secured to said frame and 69 the chute-cover-plate open at one side and, having a groove 69 in its under side to permit of the passage of the buttons having a beaded or riveted shank at its upper side (one variety being commercially known as the Morley button) as distinguished from a button having its shankmolded in the button-head, as in Fig. 17, thus permitting of the securing of different varieties of buttons without adjustment or change in the constructive elements, said cover-plate being sccured by suitable dowel-pins, not shown, and screw 70, the latter passing through the guide-bar 68 and threaded into the frame 56. 71 denotes a spring depressed buttondetaining linger hinged to the lower end of said chute-cover and provided with prongs, as 72, 72, for holding the buttons against feed-movements until the Vshaped notch 73 in the button` feeding finger 66 is caused to engagev the button and move it into the slot 40 of the head 39 with its shank in engagement with the wall 41.

74 represents va button agitating linger suitably secured to the vertically arranged rock-shaft journaled in the bearing 76 forming a part of the receptacle 59, the lovver end ot said rock-shaft carrying a crank-arm 77 provided with a screw-pin 78 which at each backward movement ot the slide-plate 22 is acted on by the plate 3dto rock said crank-arm and cause the linger 74 to agitate the buttons, and if the latter are not in position to properly enter the chute 63 cause the same to be directed back into the receptacle, a suitably mounted spring 7 9 acting to reverse the movement of said crank-arm when said slide-plate is moved forward. S0 denotes the button-receptacle cover plate hinged to a bracket 81 formed integral with said receptacle.

To give to the feed-Wheel 57 the desired step-by-step rotary movements there is suitably secured on the shaft 5S a ratchet-ivlieil S2 and loosely mounted on said shaft are two disks 83 and 811 carrying spring de pressed paWls and 86 respectively, the disk S3 being connected with an oscillating cam disk 87, carried by the main-shaft 1S. by a link connection 8S and the disk S4; with said oscillating` disk by a link connection S9, said paivls being pivotally secured on their respective disks and acting on the ratchet Wheel to turn itin a single direction at each oppositely directed movement ot said link connections, the movements of the latter being effected by the rocking movements ot' the main-shaft through the treadle and treadle-connections previously pointed out. 00 denotes a two-ply disk mounted loosely on the shaft 58 and provided with peripheries ot different radii and in each ol said pawvls are suitably secured pins, as 91, 91, said tivoply disk being connected with the cover-plate by a link 92 and when said plate is closed down upon the button-receptacle said paivl pins are caused to track directly over and in close proximity to the smaller radii of the peripheries 93 and Slt, but when the covenplate is swung back the link 92 rotates said tivo-ply disk to a position to cause the pins to track the peripheries oit said larger radii and 0G, thus suspending; the buttolrfeed action ot the 'feed-Wheel While permitting` the operation oit all elements necessary to the securiteov ot a button. 07 represents a beaming` sind threaded into the trame 12, asplit end 95S of' an arm 09 being suitably clamped upon a, hub loosely journaled upon the stud' 07 and integral With a button positioning lever to which is pivotally connected the buttoni eed finger 66, the arm 99 beingprovided With a camroller 101 tracking` the periphery et the disk 87, the roller being1 held in contact with said periphery by a spring` 102.

103 represents a Wireteed cemtrolling arm tast on the rock-shaft 30 and having;l depending 'tree end` 104. normally in contact with the button when in position to receive the fastening` ivire, the opposite end oip` said rock-shaft beine; provided with a suitably secured hub 105 having a lug' 100 to the rear side oit which is secured by screv7 107 an arm 108 ot the feed controlling latchlever 109, the opposite side et said lug having secured to it an extension 110 the tree end ot' which7 in the operation of the ma,- chine is acted on by a cam-lug; 111 carried by the ivire feed controlling` disk 112 fast on the rock-shaftI 18 the action of said cam-lug?)` on said extension elilecting` an upward rocking' movement ot the levers 103 and 109, the return movements oit which are controlled by the spring` 113 and When. 'from any causej the button feedii mechanism fails in presenting` a button to the action et the sta-` pling mechanism the absence of the button from the registering' head 39 permits the tree end of the lever 103 to rest on the latter and the lever 109 to rock the Wire :toed con- 'trolling` latch 11st pivot/ed on the screw 115 and place the Wall of its tree end 110 in the path ot movement of the ivire feeding; lever 117, thus suspending' the feeding' ot the Wire When the button is not in position to receive the latter.

115i represents the Wire 'feeding cam loosely mounted on the mainshatt and provided with a cam portion 119 ant actuated Ltrein the f'fjintroller-disk 1.1.2 througrn the action ot the end Walls ot the slot 120 on. the stiSd-screvy 121. threaded into said cam. The Wire feeding lever 1.17 is pivoted on a stud-bolt 192, dependingl romfthe bracket lZl suitably secured to the trame l2. and provided with a camd'oller 124-. which, in practice is acted on in opposition to the resiliency ot the spring; by the cam portion 110, said spring' acting; on a rod 122 suitably mounted in lue as 123@ 123', cured in the bri cket-lea i 124e', the inner end of said rod actine' on a pin 125 carried b v the lever 11.7 to return the latter to its 'feeding); position.

rlhe lever 117 has suitablyT secured to its 'tree end a rfire 'toed plate 120 on Which is pivotally secured` by a screw 127, a toothed. latch 12S resiliently held by the suitably mounted spring; 1.520 againstl accidental movenf t in a direction'toward the button but movable in such direction when the lever 177 is moved in an opposi directioit it beineunderstood that.I as in the earlier art. a nim'ement ol" the lever lllw to Ward. the button will cause the serrated. tree ond oit said latch to grip the Wire between 4- 4. 1 19 .c i the stun 100 and leed the Wire@ and it epfl be tree of such gripping action on when being` moved in the opposite direction.

'llhe me. ns employed tor holding` the Wire in its adjusted or torvvard. position the same jnst described except that the plate 1531., corresponding` to 'the plate 1.26., is stal ivi r e tionary and mounted on a bracket 132 suitably secured to the frame 12. The elements 112 and 118 cooperating to give to the wire a dwell sufhcient to enable the shearing to have taken place before the wire feed lever is returned which action insures the length of wire severed each time to be uniform.

133 denotes an indexing element carried by the head 39 the free end of which. is located in alinement with the rib 134iformed by the intersecting' walls of the concaved surfaces 26 of the die 26 and in a plane corresponding to the plane in which the slideplate 22 moves, said element acting to indicate to the operator the correct locating of the shoe-button vamp with respect to the button to be secured 136 denotes the button receiving cup for receiving the buttons when, for any purpose. itis desired to substitute a different variety of button.

rlhe buttons are picked up by the button feed-wheel and deposited on the inclined button feeding chute 62 where they aline themselves with certain of the shanirs nepending within the groove and from the inclined chute the buttons are fed by gravity within the chute 63 from which they are transferred one at a time to the staple forming mechanism.

ln the operation of setting a button pressure is applied to the treadle 5 which causes the lever 17 to be rocked thereby cansino' the slide-plate 22 to be moved forward car. 7ing with it the wire cutting and bei'iding bar 27, which latter in its forward movement severs the wire (which has previously been threaded through the button-shank), followed by bending the severed portion into U-shape around the button-registering head 39, when the release pawl 36, by the action of the cam-slot 55, is caused to be lifted out of engagement with the notch 31 in the bar 27 and simultaneously with this action the head 39 is lowered and withdrawn from the wire staple and the slide continues its movement until the bar 27, carrying the staple in the grooves 29 contacts the shoe-upper, which has been previously placed over the die 26, when the continued movement of the slide 22 compresses the spring and moves the bar 24 against the wire staple which forces the latter out of the grooves 29 and through the shoe upper into the curved recesses 26 of the die 26, thereby curling the ends of the staples inwardly after passing through the shoe upper. As the pressure is removed from the treadle 5 the spring 9 causes the parts to be returned to retracted position, the actions taking place during this move ment being as follows: The slide 22 on its return movement, through the action of the cam-surface 52 against the end 50 of the lever 37 causes its head 39 to be raised into position to receive the neXt subsequent button which is placed thereon by the button feed finger 66 when the bending bar 27 is again united to the slide 22 by the latchlever 36 entering the notch 31 through the action of the cam-slot 55. The feed of the wire through the button-shank takes place during the return movement of the slide 22, said wire feed movement commencing' just as the head 39 has passed into position below the opening in the bushing 43.

The lost-motion provided between the disk 112 and feedcam 118, which latter actuates the wire setting lever 117, through the slot 120 is for the purpose of preventing any withdrawal of the wire until the length of wire already fed to the button-shank has been sheared ofi' so that the length of wire sheared for each successive blank will always be the same.

rlhe time of action of the button feeding finger 66 is such that it sets a button on the head 39 immediately after the latter has been raised on the return movement of the slide 22. The action of the button feed finger in transferring buttons from the chute to the head 39 is as follows: The button positioning lever 100 is oscillated bachand-forth by the cam-disk 87 and spring 102 and as said lever approaches its retracted position the linger 66 is lifted on top of the button detaining finger 71 by riding the end wall of the slot of the forli formed in the end of said latter iinger, thereby permitting the lower-most button within the chute to fall in front of the notched end of the `linger 66 in position to be engaged by the latter during its downward movement and push the button out from under the finger 71. During the passage of the button from the chute to the head 39 the button-shank is guided between the inner edges of the plates 30 secured to and forming a part of the bar 27.

l'laving thus set forth the nature of the invention, what l claim herein is 1. ln a staple-forming and button-securing machine, the combination with wirefeeding and cutting, staple-forming and -se curing and button-feeding means, of a wirefeed controlling arm independent of said button-feeding means yieldingly urged to contact with a button positioned for reception of the wire, and a controlling latch adapted to be placed in the path of movement of said wire-feeding means by said controlling arms in the absence of a button.

2. lin a staple-forniing and button-securing machine, the combination with wirefeeding and -cutting, and staple-forming and` securing means, of a button-feeding nger, means for actuating said i'inger to feed buttons into position to be threaded by the wire, a wire-fed controlling arm independent of said buttonfeeding finger adapted to contact with a button positioned for reception of the wire, means brought into action by said arm in the absence of a button to arrest the effective action of said Wire-feeding means, and means for retracting said controlling arm independently of the buttons.

3. ln a staple-forming and button-securing machine, the combination with Wirecutting, staple-forming and -securing and button-feeding means, of an actuating shaft, an actuating element secured to said shaft, a cam-disk loosely journaled on said shaft and operatively connected with said actuating element, and spring-actuated Wire-feeding means normally controlled by said camdisk to insure the severance of uniform lengths of Wire by said Wire-cutting means.

t. In a sta13leforniiiig and button-securing machine, the combination with Wirecutting, staple-forming and scouring and button-feeding means, of an actuating shaft, an actuating element secured to said shaft, a cam-disk loosely journaled on said shaft and operatively connected with said actuating element, spring-actuated Wire-reeding means normally controlled by said canidisk, and means retracted by said actuating element for arresting the effective action of said Wire-feeding means When from any cause a button is not in position to receive the wire through its shank.

5. ln a stapleiorming and button-securing machine, the combination with Wirecutting, staple-forming and -securing and buttonieeding means, of an actuating shaft,

A an actuating element secured to said shaft,

a cam-disk loosely journaled on said shaft and driven by said actuating element during a portion only of the movement of the latter, spring-actuated Wire-feeding means normally controlled by said cam-disk, a Wire-feed arresting arm connected With said actuating element to be operated in one direct-ion, and a spring adapted to actuate said arm in the opposite direction to arrest the eieotive action of said Wire-feeding means when from any cause a button is not in position to receive the Wire through its shank.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specilication, in the presence oi. tivo subscribing Witnesses.

50i-lll S. FllNUH, Witnesses EDWARD H. Weens, FRANK M. VVoor'roN.

Uorrection in Letters Patent No. 1,364,264.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent N o. 1,364,264, granted January 4,

1921, upon the applioationoi John S. Finch, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, for an improvement in Button-Stapling Machines, an error appears requiring correction as follows: In the drawings, Sheet 1, for the signatures of inventor and attorney, which Were omitted, readllnventor John S. Finch, by F. W. Ostrom, Attorney; and that the said Letters Patent should he read With this correction therein that the saine may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of January, A. D., 1921.

[SEAL] L. B. MANN,

Acting Commissioner of Patents C1. 218-8. 

